Copper(ii)-photocatalyzed decarboxylative oxygenation of carboxylic acids

Showcasing the concept of light-induced homolysis for the generation of radicals, the CuII-photocatalyzed decarboxylative oxygenation of carboxylic acids with molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant is described. Two CuII-carboxylate complexes with different coordination geometries were synthesized and characterized by X-ray analysis, correlating their structure with their ability to initiate light-induced decarboxylations.